Luke 20:47 Meaning and Explanation
“Which devour widows’ houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →They devour widows' houses and make long prayers for show; these will receive greater condemnation.
What Does Luke 20:47 Mean?
The indictment turns from vanity to predation: under cover of piety, the scribes 'devour widows' houses' — exploiting the most defenseless people in Israel, the very ones the Law charged them to protect (Exodus 22:22) — while long public prayers maintain the reputation that makes the exploiting possible.
'The same shall receive greater damnation': judgment is measured to knowledge and office, and those who use God's name to prey on God's poor will answer for both the prey and the name (James 3:1). The warning is fearful, but its other face is comfort — God has seen every widow's loss, and no long prayer has ever blinded him. In the very next scene, his eyes find a widow at the temple treasury (Luke 21:1-4).
Luke 20:47 in the Original Language
krima (κρίμα), 'damnation' -- judgment, the sentence handed down by a judge.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 20:47
What does Luke 20:47 mean?
They devour widows' houses and make long prayers for show; these will receive greater condemnation.